Overview
- A high-speed pursuit that began in South Los Angeles ended Tuesday when the stolen truck crashed near Marietta and Garnet streets in Boyle Heights and the driver fled on foot.
- Officers and the fleeing driver exchanged gunfire after the crash, leaving the driver wounded and an LAPD officer struck in the chest but protected by his ballistic vest and listed in stable condition.
- Paramedics transported both the injured suspect and the officer to hospitals and helicopter and street footage showed the suspect appearing to pull a weapon before officers closed in.
- Investigators recovered what appeared to be a handgun at the scene, marked multiple evidence points, and are piecing together video and forensic evidence to determine who fired each shot.
- Ballistic vests are designed to stop or slow projectiles by dispersing impact across the vest layers and likely prevented a life-threatening wound to the officer, though the investigation and any charges remain ongoing.